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International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced the team of T20 World Cup 2021. None of the Indian players could make it to the team of the tournament which is led by Pakistan skipper Babar Azam. This is the first time ICC’s team of the tournament will not include an Indian player. From the maiden title winners, there are three players in the team including ‘Man of the tournament’ David Warner, leg-spinner Adam Zampa and opening bowler Josh Hazlewood.
Top order
Azam ended the tournament as the highest run-getter with 303 runs at an average of 60.60 in six appearances. Azam scored four half-centuries in the tournament and shared impactful partnerships with his opening partner Mohammad Rizwan who could not make it into the XI. However, Azam is not added as an opener but at no.3 in the team of the tournament.
Warner who scored 289 runs from seven innings at an average of 28.16 has been picked as an opener alongside England’s Jos Buttler. The wicketkeeper-batter scored 269 runs at an average of 89.66 including the tournament’s only century.
Middle order
Sri Lanka were knocked out of the tournament at group stages but Charith Asalanka made it into the middle order with 231 runs from six matches at an average of 231 including two half-centuries. South Africa’s Aiden Markram too made into the side on the back of his finishing abilities. Markram scored a 25-ball fifty in run chase against West Indies.
England all-rounder Moeen Ali got into the team as an all-rounder. Ali scored 92 runs in the tournament but at an impressive strike rate of 131.42. Also, the English off-spinner took seven wickets at an average of 11.
Bowlers
The highest wicket-taker of the tournament, Wanindu Hasaranga is the second Sri Lankan on the team. Hasaranga took 16 wickets at an average of 9.75 including wickets in the preliminary stage. Leg-spinner Adam Zampa has been included in the side as the second spinner. Zampa is the second highest wicket-taker with 13 wickets at an average of 12.07.
Australia’s Hazlewood is one of the three fast bowlers in the team. Hazlewood took 11 wickets at an average of 15.90 including three wickets in the final conceding just 16 runs. It also went down as the joint-best bowling figures in a T20 World Cup final. Runner-ups New Zealand had only one player in the team. Left-arm pacer Trent Boult who took 13 wickets at an average of 13.30 is the second pacer on the team. Boult was impressive in the final as well with two wickets for 18 runs while other Kiwi bowlers took a beating.
Another South African player in the team is Anrich Nortje. The Proteas fast bowler took nine wickets at an average of 11.55 and an economy rate of 5.38. Pakistan fast bowler Shaheen Afridi has been included as the 12th man. Afridi took seven wickets in the tournament and was impressive with the new ball. However, he was hit for three consecutive sixes in the semi-final by Matthew Wade who ended the run chase in the penultimate over.
ICC’s team of ICC T20 World Cup 2021: David Warner (Australia), Jos Buttler (wk) (England), Babar Azam (Captain, Pakistan), Charith Asalanka (Sri Lanka), Aiden Markram (South Africa), Moeen Ali (England), Wanindu Hasaranga (Sri Lanka), Adam Zampa (Australia), Josh Hazlewood (Australia), Trent Boult (New Zealand), Anrich Nortje (South Africa), Shaheen Afridi (Pakistan, 12th man)
